Bear has found the perfect gift for his friend mouse. But everyone he shows the gift to along the way are not so sure. In fact, they do not have one nice thing to say about it. A discouraged Bear gives the gift anyway, hoping his friend will like it - and Mouse doesn't just like it, he loves it!

Being thankful for the everyday little things is something we can teach to our children. I love how this book shows how grateful Mouse is, as well as how thoughtful Bear is, all in one easy to read story. If you only have a few minutes for a book, this is a great one to grab. Or if you have time for lots of fun activities and a talk about thankfulness, it might be a good time to read "Thank You Bear" by Greg Foley then too.

Development Activities

Books for Children Ages: 18 months to 5 years old

Reading Tips:

For young toddlers and babies make the sound of each animal when you read about them.

When reading with your older toddlers or preschoolers have them try to guess what present Bear is bringing Mouse.

Related Discussion Questions:

What did Bear give Mouse?

Why did Mouse like it?

How do you think Bear felt when all the other animals thought it was a bad gift?

How can we give good gifts to other people?

What should you do if someone tells you your idea is bad?

Activities for Kids:

Save the next box you have and see how many ways you and your child can imagine to use it together.

Find something you don't want or need anymore and give it away to someone who will love it and be able to get use out of it.

Think of ways that you can help others and then try to do at least one.

Help your child write a thank you note. This is great to do when they get a gift, but can be an activity for all the time too. Have you been invited over to a friends' house? Did someone do something for you that was especially meaningful? Even writing a thank you note to mom, dad, or an older brother or sister for all the things they do on a regular basis can be a great exercise.

Cultural Diversity: Not only is this book available in English, but you could also get the Japanese translation too.

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The woodland animals are grumpy. There is a landfill in their backyard that is just getting bigger and bigger. What can they do? They decide to "save" some of the waste that is getting dumped there to make their very own compost pile.

Simple marker colored illustrations fill this book that not only tells about the animals starting their compost pile, but also gives factoids about garbage and compost throughout the book. While it is not quite a comprehensive guide to creating your own compost, it will give you a good start.

Development Activities

Book for Children Ages: 4 years old and older

Related Discussion Questions:

How can we make less waste as a family?

Why is it important to take care of the earth?

How does garbage affect animals? How does it affect people?

Activities for Kids:

Check out the detailed lesson plans, coloring book version, and the original book on the Compost Heroes website.

Cultural Diversity: The only people in this book are shadows driving the trash trucks. The animals represent northern American animals such as deer, skunks, racoons, turtles, and owls.Children's Book Review Rating: 3 Stars*

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*A free copy of this book was given to Beautiful Books for Children for review purposes. Our commitment to our readers and authors is to always give an honest review, even when a review copy is provided. No other compensation was provided for this review.

Lots of animals need each other. One example is zebras and oxpeckers. Who would think a little bird like an oxpecker could help a big animal like a zebra. It was so interesting to read about the ways they help each other find food and water and avoid prey.

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The Little Rose lives on the side of the road surrounded by weeds who look down on her both literally and figuratively. Her beautiful blooms become a source of shame and mocking, and she feels that she really is no good at all. Until a woman comes and lifts her from the dirt, carrying her off to a whole new life where the Little Rose can flourish and grow.

At first glance, "The Little Rose" by Sheri Fink seems like the story of the Ugly Duckling retold. And in a way, it is. But it is so much more. So many children and parents could benefit from the wonderful message of this book - you are beautiful and wonderful and have promise...even when everyone around you tells you otherwise. Even when you are born into a harsh world. Even when others put you down every time you try to succeed. And there is a rose garden for you somewhere.

While every child can benefit from this lovely story and its bright and captivating illustrations (courtesy of Mary Erikson Washam), I couldn't help thinking when reading it how especially appropriate it would be for adopted children, foster children, or children who have experienced trauma or abuse. Children from these types of situations need the message of "the Little Rose" most of all.

Development Activities

Book for Children Ages: 3 years old to 8 years old

Recommended for Family Reading: If you are caring for an older child that has dealt with trauma, bullying, or rejection, this book may be the right thing to help open dicussion about these sensitive subjects.

Related Discussion Questions:

How did the weeds make the Little Rose feel?

Has anyone ever made you feel out of place?

How did the Little Rose start to feel better about herself?

What are some ways you can feel good about yourself no matter what other people around you are saying or doing?

Have you seen other kids being picked on or hurt before? What can you do to help them?

Why do you think the Little Rose was breaking off her rose buds?

What could the Little Rose have done instead?

How did the Little Rose feel when she was planted in the rose garden? What do you think happened next?

Where do you feel best about yourself? What makes you feel safe?

Activities for Kids:

Plant your own little flower or herb and see it grow. To make it easy, you might want to purchase an all-in-one kit, such as this one on Amazon.

Help your child identify how they feel in different situations. Complete the statement "When____, then I feel ____." It could be "When my mommy hugs me, then I feel happy." or "When it is dinner time, then I feel hungry." Write whatever they choose on a piece of paper and have then draw a picture illustrating it. Then talk about what to do when you feel that way.

Make it a family goal to help someone feel happy today. Brainstorm ideas with your child. For example, taking cookies to a neighbor, writing a letter to someone who is sick, or giving a flower to someone you meet like your librarian, or garbage truck driver. Then see which ones you can try.

Cultural Diversity: The only way this book could have been better was to make the woman who transplants the Little Rose racially neutral. You do not see the face of the gardener, only her hands and feet, but are able to tell that she is light-skinned.

Children's Book Review Rating: 5 Stars - Beautiful Book*

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"In the acorn is a tree, waiting to grow tall." Each page in this book includes beautiful lift-the-flap illustrations allowing your child to see how an acorn become a tree, wheat become a loaf of bread, and a fiddle become a song that gets everyone dancing. Finally, it closes with, "In you is a story waiting to be told."

The first time I read "In the Fiddle Is a Song" by Durga Bernhard with my children, I instantly fell in love with this book. It is one of those rare children's books that teaches the head and the heart all together. That makes you enjoy your child sitting in your lap just a little bit more. Reminds us as parents how quickly our children will grow and have their own story to tell the world. And puts a seed in our child's heart to think about what kind of man or woman they want to become.

Development Activities

Book for Children Ages: 2 years old to 8 years old

Related Discussion Questions:

Which part of the book was your favorite?

What other things can you think of that start as one thing and turn into another?

What does it mean that "In you is a story waiting to be told?"

What do you want your story to be about?

Activities for Kids:

Use playdough or clay to make a pot, or anything else you can think of.

Bake a loaf of bread together from scratch. Notice all the different parts of the process, and how the ingredients change in each step.

Take a nature walk and see how many things you can spot that were once something else (there are several examples in the book, and see how many more you can think of together).

Make music together either using real instruments, or make your own - or even just turn your voices into a song!

Cultural Diversity: In addition to just being exceptionally beautiful, the illustrations in this book also represent a wide range of people and cultures.Children's Book Review Rating: 5 Stars - Beautiful Book

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Anna and Julisa may not be popular, but they are friends. They both love to learn, to laugh, and to read together. That is until the more popular Kayla and Melanie decide that they want Anna to be a part of their group instead.

In the end, Anna learns the true meaning of friendship, and does the right thing no matter what others think.

"Two of a Kind" by Jacqui Robbins was a beautiful book about friendship, being yourself, and taking care of others. Even though it was about two friends at school, it gave me a great opportunity to talk with my boys about how important it is for them to stick up for each other as brothers, and not let "the crowd" convince them to be unkind to each other.

Development Activities

Books for Children Ages: 3 years old and up

Recommended for Family Reading: While the lessons in this book can be adapted to young children, older children will definitely benefit from it as well. The captivating illustrations will help keep all your kids engaged, and it is a great book for an older child to read aloud to a younger one as well.

Related Discussion Questions:

What made Anna and Julisa "two of a kind?"

Why did Kayla and Melanie want to play with Anna?

How did Julisa feel when Anna didn't play with her anymore?

Were Kayla and Melanie being real friends?

What made Anna change her mind about who to listen to? Do you think she made the right choice?

Who are your true friends?

How can you be a good friend?

What can you do if someone else is picking on one of your friends or family?

Activities for kids:

Try the colors activity in the book with coffee filters, markers, and water. Can you make a rainbow?

Who are your best friends? Write a list or create a picture showing how you are the same and how you are different.

Visit a playground with some friends. What is your favorite playground activity? The slide? The swings?

Cultural Diversity: This is a book rich with diversity, that celebrates all different people. A good multicutural choice.

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"Petey was having a bad day." The reason? He forgot to turn on his listening ears of course! When his dad reminds him at lunch, he starts remembering to listen, and finds out how great a day can be when he does.

As a parent, it is so helpful to have little cues like "turning on your listening ears" to share with your children. This is something I have now implemented with my kids and found helpful. "Petey's Listening Ears" by L.R. Knost is a simple book, with a simple message. If it is one you are trying to teach your children, you might want to check it out.

Development Activities

Books for Children Ages: 2 years old to 6 years old

Related Discussion Topics: Listening to instructions, communication.

Activities for Kids:

Work on your listening skills by playing "Simon Says"

Color a happy face and a sad face. Read the book and have your child show which face shows how Petey is feeling. You can also use these faces to talk about different things that your child does that make them happy or sad, or make you happy or sad.

Cultural Diversity: One note for parents is that this book does mention Petey saying bedtime prayers. Also, there is no diversity represented in the book, as it only shows Petey and his parents, who are from the same ethnic background. Children's Book Review Rating: 3 Stars

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Squish is a little rabbit who is lonely. He tries to talk to the big rabbits. He tries playing alone. He even tries to play with a large apple tree. But in the end, he is still alone. Or is he? A little squirrel becomes his new best friend, which makes "him feel much bigger."

"Squish Rabbit" by Katherine Battersby is a sweet and heartwarming tale about friendship and finding that one person who you can be yourself with. The text was simple, some pages had no words at all, but the message was communicated eloquently none-the-less. Squish was a character to fall in love with, and the illustrations were adorable. This is Austrlian author and illustrator Katherine Battersby's first children's books and I am looking forward to what she does next.

As a mother of three little boys who do not always appreciate each other fully, it was also a great chance to remind them of how lucky they are that they always have each other to play with. This was a great book to open all kinds of discussions about making friends, being kind to others, expressing your feelings, and more.

Development Activities

Books for Children Ages: 2 to 6 years old

Related Discussion Topics: How to make friends, what to do when you are alone, using your imagination, communicating with others.

Activities for Kids:

In the story, Squish makes his own toy play-friend. Use fabric, a sock, or other materials to make your own little play-friend.

Play hide-and-go seek. Or, for an alternate version, have one person hide several stuffed animals and everyone else go look for them.

Go apple picking together.

Put a piece of tape, rope, or a rolled up blanket on the ground. Have one person close their eyes and walk toward it, and another person tell them when to stop before they cross the line. How close can you get without going over?

While books are usually sit down and snuggle events, there is no reason they should not also be get up and jump around opportunities. Gross motor development, along with language skills all in one 15 minutes of fun with your toddler? Check!

Each page features an animal doing an animal type of thing, and then a child doing it too. For example "I am a monkey and I wave my arms. Can you do it?" I love the child's response on every page "I can do it!" Not only are we moving around and having fun, my child is practicing positive self-affirmation too. Love it!

One great way to use motion books like this is to all stand up and read the book together while doing the motions as a way to get the wiggles out before reading more sedate stories. Alternately, keep it in the pile as a change of pace if reading is becoming boring for one or more of your children, or to transition from book time to another activity.

Development Activities

Books for Children Ages: 18 months to 5 years old

Related Discussion Topics: How different animals move, how we are different from and the same as animals, exercising our bodies, trying new things.

Reading Activities for Kids:

Get up and move with this book. Do the motions on each page - and even add your own sound effects!

What other fun animal movements can you think of to try? Take pictures of your child doing the action and saying "I can do it!" Make your own book by having your child color the animal, or cutting out pictures of the animal from a magazine for one side of the page, and then putting their picture on the other.

Get out in nature. Look for as many animals as you can find and talk about how they move and what sounds they make. Can you make these sounds too?

Culture Differences: Like all of Eric Carle's books this one is filled with a many different multicultural representations of children having fun. This book is also available in Spanish:

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Why Beautiful Books for Children?

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” ― Dr. SeussWe believe that reading with your children, and then building on that reading by connecting with real world experiences, help children grow to their potential every day! It is a process we call "learning through integrative play." Learn more.